Ligament fixation device and method

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing fixation of soft tissue (for example, ligament) to bone by employing a novel multi-piece device. The novel multi-piece device is a ligament fixation system consisting of a larger collar that is initially impacted into a bone aperture, and a smaller plug/bullet-shaped part that is impacted into the larger collar. During ligament repair/reconstruction, the graft is inserted into a bone tunnel with sutures from the graft extending outside the tunnel. The sutures are passed through a collar of the multi-part device and the collar is then inserted into the bone tunnel. The graft suture strands may be tensioned. Subsequently, the smaller plug/bullet-shaped part is impacted into the collar thereby maintaining the tension on the graft sutures. The plug/bullet-shaped part is tightened after the desired tension on the suture is achieved.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 a collar extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first cannulation; and 
 a plug insertable into the first cannulation to trap a flexible strand between the collar and the plug, wherein the plug includes a second cannulation. 
 
     
     
       2. The anchor system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the collar includes outer threads, barbs, or teeth. 
     
     
       3. The anchor system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the collar includes a ridge. 
     
     
       4. The anchor system as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a plug collar of the plug is flush with the ridge once the plug is received into the first cannulation of the collar. 
     
     
       5. The anchor system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plug includes a smooth cylindrical outer wall. 
     
     
       6. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 a collar extending along a longitudinal axis and including a first cannulation; 
 a plug insertable into the first cannulation to trap a flexible strand between the collar and the plug; and 
 wherein a plug collar of the plug includes a groove or slot configured to receive the flexible strand. 
 
     
     
       7. The anchor system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the collar includes a first length and the plug includes a second length that is equivalent to the first length. 
     
     
       8. The anchor system as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the flexible strand is connected to a graft and the collar and the plug are configured to fixate the graft relative to a first bone. 
     
     
       9. The anchor system as recited in  claim 8 , comprising a second flexible strand attached to the graft, and a button/loop construct is configured to fixate the graft relative to a second bone. 
     
     
       10. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 an outer piece; 
 an inner sleeve received within the outer piece; and 
 a screw received within the inner sleeve to trap a flexible strand between the inner sleeve and the screw, 
 wherein an inner surface of the outer piece is adapted to engage external threads of the inner sleeve. 
 
     
     
       11. The anchor system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the outer piece is a molly. 
     
     
       12. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 an outer piece; 
 an inner sleeve received within the outer piece; 
 a screw received within the inner sleeve to trap a flexible strand between the inner sleeve and the screw; and 
 wherein the outer piece includes external threads or teeth adapted to engage a bone tunnel wall. 
 
     
     
       13. The anchor system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the outer piece includes at least one tensioning spot, groove, or slit. 
     
     
       14. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 an outer piece; 
 an inner sleeve received within the outer piece; and 
 a screw received within the inner sleeve to trap a flexible strand between the inner sleeve and the screw, 
 wherein the outer piece includes at least one tensioning spot, groove, or slit; 
 wherein the at least one tensioning spot, groove or slit is disposed on a collar of the outer piece. 
 
     
     
       15. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 an outer piece; 
 an inner sleeve received within the outer piece; and 
 a screw received within the inner sleeve to trap a flexible strand between the inner sleeve and the screw, 
 wherein the inner sleeve includes a threaded outer surface and a smooth inner surface. 
 
     
     
       16. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 an outer piece; 
 an inner sleeve received within the outer piece; and 
 a screw received within the inner sleeve to trap a flexible strand between the inner sleeve and the screw, 
 wherein the screw is a compression screw. 
 
     
     
       17. The anchor system as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the compression screw is tapered. 
     
     
       18. An anchor system for fixating tissue to bone, comprising:
 an outer piece; 
 an inner sleeve received within the outer piece; and 
 a screw received within the inner sleeve to trap a flexible strand between the inner sleeve and the screw, 
 wherein the flexible strand is connected to a graft and the outer piece, the inner sleeve, and the screw are configured to fixate the graft relative to a first bone, and comprising a second flexible strand attached to the graft, and a button/loop construct is configured to fixate the graft relative to a second bone. 
 
     
     
       19. The anchor system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein each of the outer piece, the inner sleeve, and the screw includes external threads.